Moscow and Kiev must agree on the memorandum before ceasefire talks can take place, Dmitry Peskov has said

Russia is close to finalizing its proposal to Ukraine that could lead to a conditional ceasefire and eventual negotiated settlement of the conflict, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said.

Moscow and Kiev are working on separate versions of a memorandum outlining a framework for peace. The Russian draft is "in the final stage," Peskov told reporters during a regular press briefing on Wednesday.

He noted that Russia continues to keep its diplomatic proposals confidential and will not release details publicly. Peskov rejected a report by Reuters claiming that Moscow wants any peace agreement to include a NATO pledge ruling out future membership for Ukraine and other post-Soviet countries, such as Moldova and Georgia.

"How do you even imagine us discussing Georgia at talks with Ukraine?" he said.

Peskov also addressed a recent call by Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky for a three-way meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. While some kind of a summit might conclude the negotiations, it cannot replace them, Peskov said. Zelensky has said he is open to meeting Putin in any third country, except Belarus.

In separate remarks, Peskov underscored that diplomacy is continuing alongside military operations. He said both parties are currently working to "formulate the list of conditions for a temporary ceasefire" that should be included in the final peace memorandum.

Initially, Kiev and its European supporters insisted that no talks could occur unless Russia agreed to a 30-day pause in fighting. Moscow rejected the demand, calling it a tactic to give Ukrainian forces relief. Under pressure from Washington, Kiev revised its stance, resulting in the first direct diplomatic engagement between Russia and Ukraine since 2022.

(RT.com)